Date published: 2008/09/15
The BBC says:
The Liberal Democrats have backed plans to make cuts to income tax for people on low and middling salaries.
The party's annual conference approved a policy document promising "big" reductions for struggling families at the next election.
...
The leadership proposes to find the money for its change of policy through £20bn worth of savings in public spending.
Since the Lib Dems have not spelled out the details of their proposals (e.g. what constitutes a "middling" salary, or what services will be cut), this is mostly hot air. And indeed, they have also promised to increase so-called green taxes, which basically means whacking up the petrol tax from the current extortionate level to a super-extortionate level (since the Lib Dems, along with the rest of the academic middle class, equate "green" with "anti-car"). So although people with "middling" salaries might see a small drop in income tax, they will almost certainly also see a large increase in petrol tax, which will offset this.
Meanwhile, on the same tax front, the BBC says:
People should be given income tax breaks for living healthy lifestyles, the Liberal Democrats have said.
Health spokesman Norman Lamb said "points" should be awarded to those who attend regular cancer screenings and take part in physical activities.
Local health boards must be set up with powers to cut taxes for people who accumulate enough points, he added.
Poorer people could have their benefits increased if they pursue a better lifestyle, Mr Lamb said.
He criticised the current system for being too "Stalinist" and top-down.
Lamb, as is often the case, is taking the piss. His proposals are as top-down as they get. And you can just imagine the corruption and idiotic and expensive bureaucracy involved to make this idea work. A lot of people walk and cycle to work. Who is going to vet that activity? Or how about people who hike in the countryside. Etc. Or is the tax break only going to be offered to people who act "healthily" in some officially sanctioned way? For example, some people drive to work, and then after work drive to some "health" centre to do some exercise while watching TV. Presumably that (rather silly) activity will be deemed to be "healthy" and so worthy of a tax break. The Lib Dems are the political party of the academic middle class control freaks, and this proposal is a perfect example of that.
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